Rectal speculum.



J. R. PENNINGTON.

Patented Nov. 26,

In noun nuns an. nun-1mm UNIE sirarns PATENT oFFIoE.

' JOHN R. rnnmne'ron, or CHICAGO, ILLINoI-s, Ass eNoR To SHARP a SMITH, or

. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

RECTAL SPEGULUM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R, PENNINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful'Improvement in Rectal Specula, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rectal specula, and is fully described and explained in the specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are elevations of the removable core from the side, top and bottom ofthe speculum.

Fig; 4 is a side elevation of the tubular portion of the speculum.

Fig. 5 is an end view looking from the right of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 of Fig; 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the lamp-carrying tube.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the assembled device; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section on the line 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings- 10 is a tubular member of appropriate diameter provided at its forward end with a rounded shoulder 11, acutely conical toward the forward end. At the rear of the tubular member is a shield 12, which is of sheet metal pressed into the curved form illustrated, the shield terminating at its lower margin in a flat handle 13.

Within the tubular member 10 is a core, or plug, 14:, which substantially fits the space within the tubular member, the inward movement of the plug being limited by a shoulder 15, and a handle 16 affording means for the ready insertion and withdrawal of the core or plug. The core and tubular member are beveled oil", as illustrated, so as to present a relatively large elliptical inclined surface, the point of the core, or plug, projecting just beyond the end of the tubular member, and conforming, generally, to the shape thereof.

Along the lower inner surface of the tubular member is a tubular guide 17, cut away on its upper surface so as to leave the edges somewhat closer together than the major diameter of the tubular guide. Within this tubular guide is slipped a hollow lamp-car- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1918.

rying tube 18, at the front of which is a small electric lamp 19. The rear end of the lampcarrying tube is turned downward, as illus trated in Fig. 8, and is provided with a pin '20 entering an opening in the shield 12, whereby to fix the lamp-carrying tube in position. Suitable conductors are carried in through the lamp-carrying tube 18 to supply current to the lamp. The lower face of the core or plug, is curved, illustrated in Figs. 3, 8 and 9, so as to slip readily over the lamp-carrying tube and its guide 17.

The operation of the device will, it is believed, be clear from the description of its structure. It is inserted in the usual manner, with the core, or plug, in position, and the sphincter, by engagement with the shoulder 11, keeps the structure in position. The plug, or core, can then be removed, exposing to view a surface of considerable area which can be conveniently illuminated by the lamp 19. The device can be turned around to allow different areas to be successively examined, and if in a particular case the movement of the device is irritating, the difiiculty can be obviated by inserting the core, or plug, before an effort is made to rotate the device. The fact that the lamp is removably carried in a tubular guide open at the top, makes it possible to cleanse the device very thoroughly and easily.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of this construction without departing from the spirit of m invention; therefore I do not intend to imit myself to the specific form herein shown and described, except as pointed out in the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all the novelty inherent in the construction as broadly as is permitted by the state of the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A rectal speculum comprising a tubular shell beveled off at its forward end opening on one side at the front and provided near its front end with a shoulder for retention, and a removable lug having a correspondingly beveled end and adapted to close the end of the shell when the same is being inserted.

2. A rectal speculum comprising a' tubular shell beveled ofl' from its forward end to a point beyond the center of its length opening on one side at the front and provided near its front end with a shoulder acutely conical at its forward end and steeper at its rear end for retention, and a removable plug having a correspondingly beveled front end and adapted to close the end of the shell when the same is being inserted, the rear end of the shell being expanded to form an enlarged shield;

3. A rectal speculum comprising a tubular shell having an opening on one side at its front and provided near its front with ashoulder for retention, and a removable plug adapted to close the forward end of the shell when the same is being inserted, bothplug and shell being beveled off on a common plane to furnish a tapered point when the plug is in place, and lateral opening when the plug is removed.

4:. A rectal speculum comprising a tubular shell having an opening onrone side at the front and provided near its front with a shoulder for retention, the shell having at its rear an enlarged shield, and a removable plug adapted-to close the front end of the shell when the same is inserted, both shell and plugbeingbeveled off on a common plane to a point beyond the center of their length to furnish a tapered point when the plug is in place and an enlarged lateral opening when the plug is removed.

,5. A rectal speculum comprising atubular Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, 1!). G.

shell having an opening on one side at the front, and provided near its front with a shoulder for retention, and a removable plu adapted when inserted to close the end 0 the shell, the shell having a slotted tube along its longer side and the plug being grooved to pass over said tube, anda lamp adapted to slide into the tube and be carried therein in position to illuminate the exposed surfaees.

6. A rectal speculum comprising a tubular shell having an opening on one side at the front and provided near its front end with a shoulder acutelyconical at its forward end and steeper at its rear end for retention, the shell having an enlarged shield at its rear end, a removable plug adapted to close the end of the shell when the same is inserted, the plug and shell being beveled olf on a common plane to furnish a tapered point when the plug is inserted and a lateral opening when the plug is removed, the shell having a slotted tube along its longer side and the plug being grooved to receive the'same, and a lamp adapted to slide into the tube and be carried thereby in position to illuminate the exposed surfaces.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of June, 1918.

JOHN R. PENNINGTON.

Commissioner oi Patents, 

